Meet Prof. Beau: The Country’s First Full-Time Facility Dog, Who Helps De-Stress College Students

Ashley Maisano

By Ashley Maisano

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Meet Professor Beauregard Tirebiter, USC’s first-ever facility dog. Dubbed “Beau” for short, he is a two-year-old black Goldendoodle, and not only is he the first dog like this at USC, but he’s also the first full-time facility dog in the country!

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A facility dog is similar to a therapy dog, but rather than being trained to work periodically with individuals, he’s trained to work with a multitude of people on a regular basis in a facility such as a hospital, school, or nursing home.

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Beau completed extensive training with the Canine Angels Service Teams in Oregon. At the University of Southern California, he’s called a “wellness dog” and lives on the second floor of Engelmann, where paw print signs lead students to where he is.

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And just like any other professor, he even has his own office hours and business cards! Beau is extremely affectionate and calming and has a special way of connecting with students.

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Studies show that dogs can help calm and de-stress humans. They can help lower stress hormones such as cortisone, and increase happy hormones such as serotonin and oxytocin.

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Many of the college students who live at the school don’t get to see their dogs often who are back at home, so it’s comforting for them to spend time with Beau to help fill that void.